Telephone signaling



Aug. 4, 1931. H. G. HALL TELEPHONE SIGNALING Filed Jan. 7, 1930tUIIIIIIIlIIIIlllI/llllllll 1 YNVENTOR Harold a/Z Patented Aug. 4, 1931UNITED STATES HAROLD G. HALL, OF ONEONTA, NEW YORK TELEPHONE SIGNALING.Application filed January 7, 1930. Serial No. 419,025.

This invention relates to visual telephone signaling apparatus and hasfor its object the provision of means for indicating to the eye atelephone call.

I; In large offices and business establishments where there are manytelephone instruments in the same room or where there is a great deal ofnoise it is often diflicult to tell whether a telephone has rung or totell which 11-0 of several phones has rung. By the device of the presentinvention, this confusion is eliminated.

The device of the present invention includes with a housing anelectromagnet and 15 condenser which are connected into the bell circuitof the telephone. \Vhen the central operator of the-telephone systemenergizes the bell circuit to signal a call, the current passes throughthe circuit and energizes the core of the electromagnet. An armature isthus attracted to the core and releases a catch which holds a shutterwithin the housing. The shutter which forms the visual signal thenassumes a signaling position by rising through the top of the housing.

The invention will be clearly understood from the drawings to whichreference is now made.

Fig. I represents diagrammatically the device with its circuits, theshutter being shown in signaling position.

Fig. II represents diagrammatically the device when the shutter is notsignaling.

Fig. III represents the resetting apparatus by which the shutter ismoved from signaling to non-signaling position.

Referring now to Fig. I, a cord of an ordinary telephone desk stand isindicated dia grammatically. The cord is represented as having threestrands difierently colored, 1 being the green strand, 2 the red strandand 3 the yellow strand. Strands 1 and 2 are in the bell circuit asshown; Wires 4 and 5 connect respectively with strand 1 at 6 and withstrand 3 at 7. The housing, 8, of the signal device of the presentinvention is mounted preferably on top of the telephone stand as shownand wires 4 and 5 enter the housing 8.

The connections of the wires and 5 within 'Other arrangements of theparts may also the housing, 8, are indicated diagrammatically in Fig.III. As there shown, the wire 5 connects with a condenser, 9, and wire,4, with an electromagnet, 10. The condenser, 9, and the electromagnet,10, are also connected by the wire, 11. An armature, 12, bears a claw orcatch which may be as shown at 13 or in another position adapted toengage with the shutter, 14, to hold it out of signaling position asshown in Fig. II or to release it so that it may assume signalingposition above the housing, 8, as shown in Figs. I and 7 III. Theshutter, 14, is pivoted as at 15 and may be counterweighted at 16, thecounterweight, 16, causing the shutter, 14, to rise into signalingposition through a slot in the top of the housing when the catch, 13,due to movement of the armature, 12, releases the pin, 17, on theshutter 14.

The shutter, 14, may be reset into nonsignaling position either by handor when the device is located as shown in the drawings by a specialmeans which comprises a reset rod, 18, mounted on the receiver hook, 19,and bearing against the shutter, 14.

The operation of the device is as follows.

lVhen the central olfice signals a call the electromagnet, 10, isenergized from the bell circuit through the wires 4 and 5. The armature,12, with its claw, 13, is thus drawn towards the electromagnet and theshutter, 14, p is released. The counterweight, 16, lifts the shutterthrough a slot in the top of the housing, 8, and the signal isdisplayed. The person called then removes the receiver from the hook,19. The hook then rises carrying with it the reset rod, 18, which bearsagainst the shutter, 14, and moves it about its pivot, 15, thusresetting it in non signaling position where the claw, 13, engages thepin, 17, and holds the shutter in this position until the armature isonce more moved.

It is, of course, possible to reset the shutter by simply pushing itinto the housing by hand. It is also possible so to position and balancethe shutter about its pivot that it will move into signaling position ofits own weight as soon as released by the armature.

be made without departing from the spirit 1 ture of an electromagnetwhich is energized from the bell circuit of a telephone set. It isceiver which returns the signal element to its non-signalling position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this12th day of December, 1929. v

HAROLD G. HALL.

also obvious that the shutter movement mayv be actuated on release bymeans other'than that shown, as, for example, by a spring.

The device is easy to install on sets at present in use and may be builtinto a desk instrumentv during manufacture. It lends itself easily toconnection with a metering device showing the number of calls and whena. call is made the signal remains displayed until it is reset in thedescribed manner.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a telephone set and visual signalmeans in connection therewith, the telephone set comprising the usualtransmitter, receiver, receiver-supporting hook, and

bell or buzzer circuit controlled by the posi- 7 tion of said hook; andthe visual signal means comprising a visual signal element movable intosignalling and non-signalling position; a latch releasably securing thesignal element in its non-signalling position; an electromagnet incircuit with the bell circuit of the v telephone set for releasing saidlatch; means for actuating the signal element, when released, into itssignalling position; and means actuated by the hook upon the removal ofthe receiver which returns the signal element to its non-signallingposition. I

2. In combination, a telephone set and visual signal means in connectiontherewith, the telephone set comprising the usual transmitter, receiver,receiver-supporting hook, and bell or buzzer circuit controlled by theposition of said hook; and the visual signal means comprising a visualsignal element adapted to be put into and out of operation; means forputting the signal element into operation, said means including anelectro-magnet in circuit with the bell circuit'of the telephone; andmeans actuated by the hook of the telephone set upon the removal of thereceiver which puts the signal element out of operation.

3. In combination, a telephone set and visual signal means in connectiontherewith, the telephone set comprising the usual transmitter, receiver,receiver-supporting hook,

and bell or buzzer circuit controlled by the I position of said hook;and the visual signal means comprising a visual signal element movableinto signalling and non-signalling position, said signal element seekingwhen released its signalling position; a latch releasably securing thesignal element in its non-signalling position; an electro-magnet incircuit with the bell circuit of the telephone set for releasing saidlatch; and means actuated by the hook on the removal of the re-

